Yeah, it's official.
Ryanair, Europe’s No. 1 low fares airline today (31st July) announced that it will transfer seven routes from Forli to nearby Bologna from 27th October 2008 which will deliver 800,000 passengers to the airport annually.
In June 2010 Bologna will become Ryanair’s 30th European base with an initial investment of $140m in two aircraft, rising to five aircraft (a total investment of $350m), 25 routes, two million annual passengers, and 2,000 jobs by 2012.
The low fares airline also announced that it will open a base in Forli in March 2009 (the airline’s 29th), investing $70million in one aircraft which will deliver 400,000 passengers, to at least three and up to six new destinations and 400 local jobs.
The only explanation I can comprehend (it's my suspicion at least):
- The routes shifted from FRL to BLQ will be brand new routes (with brand new funding).
- All FRL routes will be new ones (marketing required).
- New bases require new support (both of them).
Now I understand, why FR will NEVER have any base in Finland.